Miata Mailing List: November 1994, Message #287
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   From: Doug Hagerman 
Subject: Re: DAILY digest of "miata" mailing list (part 1 of 1)
   Date: Thu, 10 Nov 1994 16:19:53 -0500

> From: "Diane DeGrace, RBU Project Mgr, BOS, (508)389-8329"  
> I'm about to purchase a new 1994 Miata, but the dealer is giving me a hard 
> time about the price of the optional hardtop.  Because I live in New 
> England, its very important to have the defrost feature during the winter.  


As far as negotiation with the dealer, just be really stubborn. But I'd
be interested to hear more about your reason for wanting a hardtop in the
first place. I live in New England too, and as far as coldness is concerned,
the Miata heater is fine for even the coldest days with a convertible
(with the top up!). Brushing snow off a convertible is just as easy or
hard as with a hardtop, so the only issue left is the rear defroster.
Ice is easier to cope with using the plastic window because it's flexible
and when you wiggle it the ice breaks off, that is if it's one of those
nice crisp winter mornings where there is actually ice. If it's slush
and sleet, there's no difference in the windows--you can't see out
of either and it doesn't matter if you have a Miata or a Volvo.

And the nice thing about the convertible is that for weather like we're
having right now, you can put it up and down in a minute. Just last weekend
I was driving my daughter to a soccer game with the top off. Given
the lousy weather of the previous week we probably would have put on
the hardtop if we had one--and thus missed the nice days of indian summer...

So I say, tell the dealer you've changed your mind, try it with the
soft top for a winter, and then if you still want a hardtop by next
spring you have all summer to find a source. I've had good luck
with several of the advertizers in MM. Spend the money on the limited
slip differential instead.

Doug.